Friday the 13th

So many think it unlucky
but not me
you see, since I was a child
I’ve always refused to believe
and, not wanting to be a sheep
taught myself to think just
the opposite.

13 is my second favourite number
7, my first.

Friday the 13th of October 1307
was so unlucky for the
Order of the Knights Templar
when the King of France and
the (then) Pope decreed
their wealth and power had grown
too mighty and that this noble order
was to be cast out of existence
mostly for heresy
(or whatever else they decided would suit)

In the name of God
on Friday the 13th amidst the dead of night
most of these unsuspecting men
were arrested, tortured to confess to
crimes they didn’t commit and then, executed.

Cruelly tortured for a number of years
the last Grand Master still would not
admit to any crime
and Jacques de Molay cried out
from the flames as they finally burned
him at the stake, a curse upon the three
men, that each would die before years end
and a curse upon their offspring for
13 generations.

Who knows
maybe this is the reason why 13 is
deemed to be so unlucky
but,
it isn’t for me
because I like to be different and
refuse to see it as such.

Some people think that it is Jacques de Molay’s face and not that of Jesus which was imprinted on the Shroud of Turin They may well be right.

Apparently the King of France, the Pope and the Prime Minister did all die before the years end. Even though this is a part of history, no-one truly knows why the number 13 has always been considered unlucky.

I am with you, kiddo, I don’t believe in Friday the 13th or people freaking out at the full moon. All this garbled goop from the past, 90% from some religious faction to keep the people in line. So you write by a prompt…I wondered. Great history. I have always been fascinated by the Knights Templar. I don’t have any objections if you want to privatize this since I made an implication about religion and it might offend. Great work. Love to you, Ann

Interesting, Bren. I like being different too, which is why when everyone loved Elvis and the Beatles, at first, I didnt. However I learned to ADORE the Beatles in the 70’s and still do. Great response to the prompt, kiddo. Your work is always great to read.

Knights Templar, huh? I knew only the little about them I could glean from Dan Brown! (shame faced) Now, forever more, the number 13 shall carry this history for me thanks to this poem.

And I thought the unluck of 13 came from my favorite fairy tale! In “Sleeping Beauty” not inviting the 13th godmother led to disaster. And why wasn’t she invited? The King and Queen only had 12 golden plates and could not feed the “aunts” from anything less precious. So much for materialism.

The history you give here is horrifying partly because humans should not be able to do this to someone of our own species. Shouldn’t then and shouldn’t now, not for any reason.

Interesting history you presented here, Bren. I don’t think of Friday the 13th as unlucky either. In fact, there were times when I just waited for the next Friday the 13th as something very good usually happened to me on that day. Hmmm, I will have to pay attention today and see what the day brings. I enjoyed your write.